12 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

Kabul: Afghan security forces have killed at least a dozen Taliban militants, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Afghan army, police and personnel of intelligence agency carried out several cleanup and military operations within the past 24 hours, killing 12 armed militants and wounding 23," the ministry said in a statement.

The joint forces also seized weapons in 11 of the country`s 34 provinces, the statement said, Xinhua news agency reported.

In one operation, eight militants were killed on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah city, capital of Helmand province.

The Afghan security forces have stepped up operations against militants who were attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions in the mountainous country.